10. 49ers Goal-line Stand (Super Bowl XVI)

The San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals met in Super Bowl XVI at the Pontiac Superdome in Pontiac, Michigan. The slightly favored 49ers, led by Joe Montana, Dwight Clark, and Ronnie Lott, put together a goal-line stand in the third quarter that stands out as one of the all-time great Super Bowl moments.

After Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson failed to get in the end zone on first down and Pete Johnson lost a yard on second down, Anderson tossed the ball to Charles Alexander who, on a missed route, was brought down by Dan Bunz to force fourth down.

9. Lynn Swann’s Bobbled Catch (Super Bowl X)

Lynn Swann had just four receptions for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl X against the Dallas Cowboys, but they were four of the biggest receptions in Super Bowl history, going for a total of 161 yards and a touchdown. The most memorable of the four receptions stands out as an all-time great Super Bowl moment.

In the January sun at the Miami Orange Bowl, quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw a long pass down the field to Swann who somehow came down with the 53-yard reception after a bobble. Though the 64-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter was longer, the bobbled catch is even more memorable, standing out as one of the most improbable catches in NFL history.

8. Vince Lombardi’s Last Game with the Packers (Super Bowl II)

Super Bowl II between the Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders at the Miami Orange Bowl wasn’t one of the more competitive games in Super Bowl history, with the Packers taking a quite easy 33-14 win. But it is one of the most memorable games in NFL history because it was the final game Vince Lombardi would coach for the Packers.

In a moment forever secured in NFL history, the Packers carried Lombardi off the field after securing the win over the Raiders. The legendary coach would be stricken ill and die untimely just two years later in 1970 at just 57.

7. Jackie Smith’s Drop (Super Bowl XIII)

Jackie Smith is one of the NFL’s all-time greatest tight ends, as well as one of the all-time greatest Cardinals. His Hall of Fame resumé comes entirely on the merits of his St. Louis Cardinals career. However, his one season with the Dallas Cowboys provided the moment that is perhaps most attached to his NFL career.

In a Miami Orange Bowl Super Bowl rematch between the Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Roger Staubach attempted a pass to a wide open Smith in the end zone in the third quarter. In an uncharacteristic turn, Smith dropped the ball, killing a sure touchdown for the Cowboys. It’s long been said that Smith expected the ball to be thrown by Staubach in his usual manner, but Staubach, seeing how wide open his target was, decided to loft it to him. Regardless, the moment lives in Super Bowl history.

6. Patriots Comeback (Super Bowl LI)

The largest comeback in Super Bowl history happened at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas in Super Bowl LI. Whether you see the comeback as a testament to Tom Brady’s greatness, an all-time great halftime adjustment, or an epic collapse by the Atlanta Falcons, the game is one of the most memorable Super Bowls ever played.

With the score 28-9 in favor of the Falcons at the start of the fourth quarter, the New England Patriots rattled off 19 consecutive points to tie the game and set it to overtime. After Brady hit James White, Danny Amendola, and Chris Hogan to get the Patriots down the field, a pass interference call would put the team in the red zone. On a pitch to White, the most improbable win in Super Bowl history was cemented as he scored the final touchdown.

5. Titans Just Short (Super Bowl XXXIV)

At the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, the Tennessee Titans gave the “Greatest Show on Turf” all it could handle. Led by the warrior Steve McNair, the Titans just wouldn’t go away. The high-powered St. Louis Rams were on the ropes as McNair led the Titans offense down the field one last time late in the fourth quarter.

As the clock stood at six seconds remaining in the game, McNair and the Titans had time for just one more play in an attempt to tie the game. A final pass was completed to wide receiver Kevin Dyson who had darted across the middle of the field to get open. Rams linebacker Mike Jones wrapped up Dyson, as the receiver reached out for the end zone and came up just short of the goal-line as time expired.

4. James Harrison’s Interception (Super Bowl XLIII)

Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida was the sight of one of the greatest Super Bowls in NFL history. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals exchanged a number of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history, one of which was James Harrison’s goal-line interception return for a touchdown.

Harrison intercepted a pass from Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner to take away a Cardinals touchdown, returning it 100 yards for a touchdown just before halftime to increase the Steelers’ lead to 17-7. At the time, it was the longest play in Super Bowl history.

3. Larry Fitzgerald’s Touchdown (Super Bowl XLIII)

Again, during Super Bowl XLIII, one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history took place. This time, Larry Fitzgerald provided the moment on a 64-yard touchdown catch from Kurt Warner to give the Cardinals their first lead of the game 23-20 with under three minutes to go in the game.

This moment was massive, as it appeared the Cardinals may have been on their way to winning their first Super Bowl in franchise history, their only championships coming in the pre-Super Bowl era of the NFL. It didn’t happen, of course, as the Steelers would go down and score on a game-winning drive that provided yet another list-worthy moment.

2. Helmet Catch (Super Bowl XLII)

Then-University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona was the site of the famous “helmet catch” by David Tyree to lead the New York Giants to victory over that season’s thought-to-be-unbeatable New England Patriots, who had gone 16-0 in the regular season. Eli Manning’s escape from pressure to make the pass was perhaps equally as improbably as the catch itself.

The Giants’ victory was over a Patriots team favored by double digits. In fact, the Giants didn’t even win their division during the regular season. All of this adds up to one of the ultimate David vs. Goliath stories in professional sports history.

1. Joe Namath’s Guarantee (Super Bowl III)

Super Bowl III at the Miami Orange Bowl remains the biggest moment in Super Bowl history. Charismatic New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath’s guarantee of victory over the seemingly superior Baltimore Colts was one of the gutsiest, some might say stupidest calls in professional sports history. Nevertheless, the 19.5-point underdogs pulled off the impossible.

The game was also huge in changing perceptions around the game of pro football. At the time, it was believed that AFL teams stood absolutely no chance against NFL teams, having been beaten badly in the first two Super Bowls. The brash, confident Namath laid waste to that idea, on his way to 206 passing yards, an MVP performance, and what is still the greatest moment in Super Bowl history.

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Whilst there is a gulf in class between the good and bad teams in the conference this season, the NFC is still wide open at the top. Could we be about to relive NFL history?

The 49ers and Cowboys share 10 Super Bowls between them, with five each.

San Francisco were the team of the 1980s, with four of their five titles coming between 1982 and 1990. Dallas dominated the 90s with three Super Bowls in four seasons. 

This era also saw a historic rivalry take place between both teams. Not only did they also meet in the NFC Championship game twice in the early 1970s, they also met four times at the same stage between 1980 and 1995. 

As historic rivalries often do, this era saw one of the most famous NFL moments. Fans of the sport during the era will never forget the infamous 1981 NFC Championship game and ‘The Catch’, Joe Montana throwing to Dwight Clark late in the fourth quarter. 

However, for years, these teams never met in the big moments. Neither team has won a Super Bowl in the 21st century, with San Francisco 0-2 in Super Bowls post-2000. Dallas have not even made it to the NFC Championship since they won it all during the 1995 season. They have since gone 4-10 in the postseason. 

Before last season, these teams had not met in the playoffs since January 15th 1995. Last season’s game was a taster of what is to come. Whilst they had not met in years in the postseason, the drama never left this rivalry. A strange play call from Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy saw them run a quarterback draw with just seconds left and no timeouts. This led to a frantic rush to spike to ball from Dak Prescott ultimately fail. We could be set for another historic matchup.

And there is no reason why not. When it comes to their offenses, San Francisco and Dallas are ninth and 10th respectively for total yards per game, and both feature in the top 10 for both rushing yards and total points per game. With defenses that are both in the top five for total yards allowed per game, these two should create an explosive encounter.

As it stands, at the time of writing, the 49ers would occupy the third seed in the NFC, with a current 9-4 record whereas the Cowboys would take the fifth seed spot despite having the joint second-most wins in the conference (10-3). This is due to their division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, having a 12-1 record as it stands.

There is a lot of belief that the 10-3 Minnesota Vikings are a team that has a better record than they should, but they are still a team with double-digit wins before the start of Week 15. This means that they, the Cowboys, Eagles and 49ers are the best teams in the conference. 

Should the 49ers, Vikings and Cowboys all win in the Wildcard Round in the currently projected matchups, this would see the Vikings host the Niners and the Eagles host the Cowboys off the back of a playoff bye.

Provided the Cowboys and 49ers both win, then once again these two teams would meet in the NFC Championship game. Both teams already lead the NFL for most NFC Championship appearances, and back-to-back seasons with these teams meeting could reload one of the game’s greatest rivalries.

The post How The Cowboys and 49ers Could Restart A Historic Rivalry appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jeremy Trottier

What better time to write a potential Hall of Fame piece than just after Christian McCaffrey just put together the first triple crown (1 rushing TD, 1 receiving TD, 1 passing TD) since 2005?  There is no better time.  In this article I will be discussing the career of premier back Christian McCaffrey, and if his career trajectory could be one that could be enshrined in Canton, Ohio someday in the future.  So without further ado, let’s get right into it. 

Stats & Accolades

Let me put something into perspective quickly.   Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers, one of the best to ever do it no doubt, had 4,956 rushing yards, 1,307 receiving yards, 9 receiving touchdowns, and 39 rushing touchdowns in 7 seasons (65 games started, 68 played).  CMC has 4,112 rushing yards, 3,371 receiving yards, 19 receiving touchdowns, and 33 rushing touchdowns in 5 ½ seasons (59 games started, 66 played).  We talk about how injured McCaffrey is, and yet through 6 seasons he will likely play more games and start more games than Sayers, and if he can really take off these last 8 games, he could even surpass Sayers in rushing yards and touchdowns.  Keep in mind this is on similar efficiency as well, with Sayers having 5.0 YPC and CMC having 4.6 YPC behind what is one of the worst offensive lines of our generation. 

McCaffrey is also a 1-time pro bowler and a 1-time first-team all-pro, and frankly one of the most impressive halfbacks in recent memory, even with the injuries. 

So is he on a HOF trajectory?

Projecting a Hall of Fame career when the player is 26 years old is difficult, as this player still is just entering their prime years, and we saw that this past weekend with McCaffrey.  Comparing him to Gale is just for effect, as I left out the fact that Sayers won CBPOY, OROY, 5 first-team all-pro selections, 4 pro bowls, 2x rushing leader, 1x scoring leader, and a Bears legend.  However, with CMC now on a competent franchise, seemingly healthy, and with a run-heavy coach who knows how to get backs production?  As well as a potential Super Bowl window?  There is potential here for CMC to get his name back into the elite status and really cement himself with some hardware.  We will see where his career takes him, but he is on the right track for now. 

The post Is Christian McCaffrey a future Hall of Famer? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jeremy Trottier

The NFL Hall of Fame is one of the most prestigious places you can have your name placed, and is easily the biggest goal for all NFL players aside from potentially a Super Bowl MVP.  NaVorro Bowman is one such player who could make it into the hall, and enshrine his legacy in the NFL forever.  In this article, I will be going over whether or not he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible next year. 

Stats & Accolades

One of the most impressive numbers in Bowman’s career was his tackles, even more so his solo tackles.  In his career of 8 seasons, he racked up 798 tackles, and in this span he only played in 99 games, starting in 84.  This means he averaged just over 8 tackles in every game he played, which is extremely high efficiency.  Other than tackles, he had 5 interceptions, 30 pass deflections, 9 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, 14 sacks, 48 tackles for loss, and 30 QB hits.

In the accolades department, Bowman had 3 pro bowls, 4 first-team all-pro appearances, led the league in tackles in 2015, and was the reason for the NaVorro Bowman Rule.  This allowed officials to review the recovery of a loose ball. 

Should NaVorro make the Hall of Fame?

It is hard to truly make a case for Bowman looking at his production long term, as he did only play 7 seasons healthy, and only 5 of which did he play in all 16 games.  But his efficiency on the field and production when playing is what makes his case debatable, as it did with Calvin Johnson in his 9 seasons.  I would say, as of right now, with his impact made on the team, he should at least be considered for the Hall of Fame, but definitely not first ballot.  He is right on the border of what I tend to consider Hall of Fame level production, so I understand if he makes it in 2023 or onwards, but also if he does not make it at all. 

The post Is NaVorro Bowman a future Hall of Famer? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

The NFC West was considered the elite division in the NFL as little as a year ago but things have progressed since, despite having the current Super Bowl champions in the Los Angeles Rams. 

Russell Wilson is no longer in the division, and no one quite knows who will be the QB1 in San Francisco. 

But who is the divisions best quarterback? Here are the rankings of the NFC West quarterbacks from best to worst.

Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams)

What better place to start than with the QB1 of the Super Bowl Champions. Whilst Stafford was not the reason the Rams won Super Bowl 56 over the Cincinnati Bengals, with 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, he was certainly the final piece of the jigsaw as the Rams hoisted the Lombardi Trophy for the first time since the 1999 season. 

The Rams were always contenders, making it all the way to Super Bowl 53, but there was always something missing at the quarterback position. Jared Goff did well but even he would admit he was probably not good enough to take the Rams where they needed.

He was traded to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Stafford and the rest is history. Stafford had reached the postseason on three previous occasions, but each time came up short at the first attempt. His lack of playoff wins was a factor pointed out by sceptics when he arrived but when the Rams made the playoffs, Stafford showed why the team gave up so much to get him. In four games, he threw for 1,188 yards, 9 touchdowns and 3 interceptions as well as having a 70% completion percentage (98 from 140).

In the regular season, Stafford also impressed. Only Tom Brady (43) threw for more touchdown passes (41), with Stafford throwing for the third-most passing yards (4,886). 

Stafford is clearly the choice for the number one spot on this list and it will take a lot for the other players in this list to catch him up.

Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals)

Murray’s future is unclear, with his fifth option exercised but no longer-term deal in place at time of writing. 

The 2019 first overall pick has shown signs of his potential but is yet to fulfil this on a consistent basis. In three seasons, he has thrown for 11,480 yards, 70 touchdowns and 34 interceptions, whilst also recording  1,786 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. 

A trend of Murray’s career so far is starting off the season well but tailing off down the stretch. He will need a big year to convince the Cardinals front office that he is the player moving forward. Either way, he still remains second on this list.

Jimmy Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers)

When the 49ers lost to the Rams in the NFC Championship game back in January, it was seen by many to be the end of Jimmy G in San Francisco. However, he is still on the team.

Having missed OTA’s due to rehab on his shoulder,  he has yet to be traded. Say what you want about Jimmy G, but he wins games. Simple as that. Whilst he has never been the reason for the 49ers winning games, he is a very serviceable quarterback. With uncertainty over Lance after reports of the organisation being underwhelmed, Garoppolo is the right guy to be under centre for the 49ers in week one. 

Drew Lock/Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks)

Whether it is Lock or Smith, there is no way they aren’t at the bottom of this list. Lock has a great start to life in the NFL, when he started for the Denver Broncos towards the end of the 2019 season, his 2020 and 2021 campaigns flattered to deceive. Meanwhile, Smith has been a backup for most of his career. Neither of these quarterbacks, whoever starts against the Broncos in week one, are likely to inspire confidence from fans or the Seattle coaching staff. 

The post Ranking the NFC West Quarterbacks right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The San Francisco 49ers carry a 9-7 record and stress heading into Week 18. It’s unclear if the 49ers will beat the Los Angeles Rams for the sixth straight time, or if the new-look Rams led by the revenge-seeking Sean McVay will notch a much-needed victory. As widely enunciated, here is the playoff scenario for the 49ers: 

1. If the 49ers win, they are in the playoffs.

2. If the Rams win and the Saints win, the 49ers are out of the playoff picture.

3. If the Rams win, but the Saints lose, the 49ers are in the playoffs.

It’s not clear if the 49ers will be in the playoffs and how competitive they could be in the NFC gauntlet. Nonetheless, they will have to focus past the season and on the offseason at some point. With that said, Kyle Shanahan has another pivotal offseason. The 49ers added their future QB in Trey Lance last offseason, so now they need to figure out what pieces they want around the former NDSU signal-caller moving forward. The most glorious and optimistic aspect of the 2022 offseason isn’t the NFL combine (that most NFL nerds watch), but it is the NFL Draft. So, which direction could the 49ers look to go in the first three rounds? Let’s go under the scope and see what could pique Shanny’s interest.

Round 2: CB – Alontae Taylor – Tennessee (trade back in late 2nd/or early 3)

John Lynch and Shanahan should be pleased with the team’s performance in 2021. They know with ease that the NFC West team is built to win now. If the 49ers can get Lance to adjust a bit more mentally to the pro level and able to hit wide-open WRs that Jimmy G likes to miss in big games, they should see a spark from the offense. On the flip side, the 49ers have been a flag machine in the secondary ”“ notably at the CB position. Jason Verrett went from the most pleasant surprise in 2020 to Jason Verrett in 2021 (one game played).

They should be creative as usual in the 2022 draft. I would love to see them move back and select CB Alontae Taylor. They may be able to obtain a second-round draft pick next season and mid-round draft pick this season. Alontae Taylor was ranked fifth in coverage grade according to PFF in 2021. He has the frame and quickness to cover the likes of OBJ and DeAndre Hopkins well next season. 

Round 3: QB – Bailey Zappe – Western Kentucky 

This selection makes a ton of sense. Bailey Zappe, who threw for 5,977 yards and 62 passing touchdowns in FBS record-breaking fashion, would most likely be an upgrade over a QB2 in free agency like Cam Newton and Ryan Fitzpatrick (assuming Jimmy G is out the door). They would also have a very young profile in Zappe on the QB depth chart. 

Kyle Shanahan once flirted with RG3 and Kirk Cousins on the same roster. Oddly enough, Kirk Cousins was the last QB standing. There is a chance Lance either isn’t the real guy, or Zappe is the better solution in a few years, too. 

The post 49ers 3 round mock draft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

The NFC West is the NFL’s best division. All four teams are seen as playoff contenders, with some media personalities having all four teams in the postseason according to their predictions.

Here is a preview of the most stacked NFL division.

Arizona Cardinals (2020 Record: 8-8. Missed out on playoffs)

The Cardinals struggled for consistency, going 6-3 before a 2-5 run down the stretch. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury is under some pressure this season after failing to make the playoffs in his first two seasons.

Kyler Murray is also under some pressure, albeit not a tremendous amount. He is a walking highlight reel when it comes to the ground game. However, his arm talent still needs work. With wide receiver Deandre Hopkins and Christian Kirk to throw to as well as 2021 second-round selection Rondale Moore, he is not short of options. The Cardinals acquired long-time Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green, but is the aging wideout enough to transform this offense? Franchise icon Larry Fitzgerald departed in Free Agency, with a 38-year old still without a team. He has spoken of how he “doesn’t have the urge to play right now”, which is almost announcing your retirement without actually doing so. He may still join a team late into the season and the playoffs, which may give him the best chance he’s had since losing to the Steelers in Super Bowl 43.

Murray excels in the run game, but he can’t do it all by himself. Kenyan Drake departed in Free Agency, giving Chase Edmunds the chance to become the number one back. James Conner has arrived as a free agent this summer to provide depth to this running back room.

Their biggest headline offseason addition came on the defensive side of the ball, with Houston Texans great J.J. Watt arriving in Arizona. This came to the surprise of most who saw the defensive end suiting up for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers or Cleveland Browns. Linebacker Haason Reddick has left during the offseason after a brilliant 2020 season. Linebacker Zaven Collins was drafted sixteenth overall in 2021 as his replacement. Fellow linebacker Isaiah Simmons will want to improve on his anti-climatic rookie season after being seen by many as the steal of the 2020 draft. Their defensive x-factor is safety Budda Baker, who is one of the best in the entire league.

A tough opening six games sees them face the Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, and Browns. This could easily be a 2-4 or 1-5 start. They then face the Houston Texans, Packers,49ers, Carolina Panthers, and Seahawks, which will only give Arizona 2 more wins. This will leave them either 3-8 or 4-7 before a final 5 games versus the Chicago Bears, Rams, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, and Seahawks. I can only see two wins here, leaving the Cardinals finishing the 2021 season either 5-12 or 6-11.

When the two biggest headline offseason acquisitions for a team who finished 8-8 last season are two players at the end of their careers, this is never a good thing. With a head coach on the hot seat and with a tough schedule, expect Arizona to really disappoint this season.

Prediction: 4th in NFC West.

Los Angeles Rams (2020 Record: 10-6. Lost in Divisional Round)

The Rams go into this season as the NFC West team with the most hype after the trade for Matthew Stafford. This saw their first overall pick from 2016 in Jared Goff go the other way as part of the trade. Head coach Sean McVay has a new QB to work with and will be excited to work with another former first overall pick.

Stafford was drafted in 2009 and has thrown for 45,109 yards, 282 touchdowns and interceptions in the 165 games he has played. This includes eight 4,000 yard seasons, one even stretching to 5,038 along with 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. This amounts to 273.4 yards per game and with 3,898 completed passes, he has a career average of 11.6 yards per completed pass and a touchdown per every 13.8 completed passes.

Stafford has an immediate upgrade when it comes to receivers. Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp represent an immediate upgrade at the receiver position. The running back room is the one area of the Rams’ offense that could let them down. Cam Akers was expected to be the lead back, before injury put a stop to his season before it even started. Darrell Henderson and offseason signing Sony Michel will be the two running backs to take Akers’ place.

The Rams will also be aided by the number one defense from last season. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers and could be a big miss. Under new defensive coordinator Joe Barry, they will still be a force, thanks to Aaron Donald who is one of the best players in the entire NFL, with 85.5 career sacks in the regular season. Using a 3-4 scheme, the defensive end is the undisputed star of the defensive line. Behind him is linebacker Leonard Floyd, who recorded 10.5 sacks in 2020. Their secondary is one of the best in the league, with shutdown corner Jalen Ramsey the best cornerback in the league. Alongside Darius Williams, this represents arguably the best cornerback tandem in the league. Jordan Fuller and Taylor Rapp are both young and exciting players. John Johnson will be a big miss in the safety position.

It remains to be seen if Matt Stafford is the difference between the Rams winning a Super Bowl or not. It also remains to be seen if the Rams can be a great defensive unit without Staley. Either way, we will soon find out.

Their schedule sees five almost guaranteed wins, as they face the Bears, Lions, Giants, Texans and Jaguars. Matchups against the Vikings and Colts as well as two games against the Cardinals sees the Rams are favorites whereas their divisional home and away games against the 49ers and Seahawks represent four tough games that are very much 50/50. The Ravens, Buccaneers and Packers games are also very even affairs for the Rams. Winning those “easy games” plus winning half of the 50/50 games would have the Rams finishing 12-5. This could be enough to take them to the division title.

Prediction: 1st in NFC West.

San Francisco 49ers (2020 Record: 6-10. Missed out on playoffs)

There have been no real significant incomings or outgoings this offseason in San Francisco but they will be buoyed by the return of many starters. The 49ers reached Super Bowl 54 in the 2019 season but only managed six wins in 2020. George Kittle, Nick Bosa and Raheem Mostert were just three of the big-name players to spend last season on the sidelines.

Running back Trey Sermon was drafted in the second round, with quarterback Trey Lance taken third overall. The 49ers traded up for him, giving multiple draft picks to the Miami Dolphins in the process. This sends immediate pressure on Lance’s way. Nobody knows who will start out of Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. There is talk of head coach Kyle Shanahan using a two-quarterback system, something that has a lot of NFL fans really intrigued. With the amount of draft picks the 49ers used to trade up, Lance will eventually start. It is wise for the 49ers to slowly bring him in, especially considering the strength of the division.

With all their big names back, this will put the 49ers at full strength on both sides of the ball despite the loss of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. They will make a return to the playoffs but the quarterback situation may just prevent them from reclaiming the division title.

Prediction: 2nd in NFC West.

Seattle Seahawks (2020 Record: 12-4. Missed out on playoffs)

The Seahawks are in that group alongside the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in that they are the perfect example of consistency. Head coach Pete Carroll always has this team in contention but can they once again make the postseason despite no major additions and just three draft picks.

Safety Jamal Adams signed a new deal and quarterback Russell Wilson decided to stay after some offseason unrest. With receivers such as D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett at his disposal, he won’t be short of options. He will hope for better protection in 2021, being one of the most sacked quarterbacks in recent years.

With defensive studs such as Adams and linebacker Bobby Wagner, they have two legitimate game changers in a defensive unit that improved throughout the 2020 season.

The Seahawks should expect another appearance in the postseason but their lack of activity this offseason might hinder their chances of going far in the postseason.

Prediction: 3rd in NFC West.

The post Latest NFC West Preview appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most successful franchises in NFL history. Only the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers (both 6) have more Super Bowl wins than the 49ers (5). The 49ers’ five Super Bowls all came between the years of 1981 and 1994. They have lost two since, in the 2012 and 2019 seasons. The quarterbacks that led the 49ers to the Lombardi Trophy were Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Steve Young. Three of those five wins saw Montana as the starter and Young as the backup.

Young is seen by many as the best backup quarterback in history, considering the gold jacket that he earned despite many years as the backup to Montana. He would win a Super Bowl as the starter after the franchise moved on from Montana. Ever since Young decided to hang up his cleats, the 49ers have struggled to find his replacement. Have they found the guy in Trey Lance?

Perhaps, but here is why the quarterback situation involving Lance and current starter Jimmy Garoppolo could prevent the 49ers from winning the NFC West during the 2021 season.

Struggles Since Young

Jeff Garcia was the man to come in for Young. During his five seasons in the Bay, he threw for 113 touchdowns and 56 interceptions as well as 16,408 passing yards. He had a 35-36 record as a starter for the 49ers in the regular season and a 1-2 record in the postseason, meaning he never hit the heights of his predecessor.

Alex Smith was the number one overall pick in 2005, shattering Aaron Rodgers’ dreams. However, he was a good quarterback, not a great quarterback. Colin Kaepernick replaced Smith and took the 49ers to the Super Bowl. They ended up losing to the Baltimore Ravens in a game often called the ”˜Blackout Bowl’. Kaepernick failed to live up to the standards he set that season.

He would be kicked out of the league for taking the knee in a protest against police brutality in 2016. He has not played a snap in the NFL since. Jimmy Garoppolo was traded from the Patriots to the 49ers midway through the 2017 season. He gave hope to the organization after winning all five of the games he started in 2017. The fanbase had hope going into the 2018 season.

Many non-49ers fans had San Francisco down as their dark horse for the season. A season-ending injury to Garoppolo in Week 3 saw the starting role shared between Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard. However, the 49ers finished 4-12 as they went into 2019 with the second overall pick. Nick Bosa was selected and transformed the defense of San Francisco and Jimmy G had the best season of his career. He threw for 3,978 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Despite these stats, Garoppolo saw his production limited in the NFC Championship game as the coaching staff decided to use more of their running game. This led to many questions leading to the Super Bowl. The 49ers threw away a ten-point lead in the fourth quarter as they would end up losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 54.

Garoppolo was criticized heavily for an overthrown pass to Emmanuel Sanders that would have given San Francisco back the lead. His 2020 season saw a mixture of poor form and injury. During the 2021 offseason, the 49ers traded up with the Miami Dolphins to gain the number three overall pick. They took Lance with the pick, showcasing their intentions to eventually move off from Garoppolo. There is now talk of whether San Francisco and head coach Kyle Shanahan will start Lance in week one. The other scenarios discussed are either Lance coming in mid-season or sitting out the whole campaign as the backup to Garoppolo. The uncertainty will have a significant impact on the 49ers’ season.

The Strength of the NFC West

This is a problem that will affect all four teams in the best division in the NFL. There is a chance that all four teams can make the playoffs. Los Angeles has an exciting new quarterback in 2009 first overall pick Matthew Stafford. Both the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals have quarterbacks in Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray that they would never dream of trading away. Meanwhile, the 49ers’ starting quarterback is largely unpopular by fans, due to a mixture of the overthrown pass in the Super Bowl, his poor 2020 campaign and his injury record.

San Francisco has the least trusted quarterback in the division. With the position being one of the most crucial in all sports, it does not bode well for a team when there is uncertainty in the position. Garoppolo may be benched at some point during the season for Lance. However, the 49ers would be putting a rookie that will still be learning the system into the toughest division in the NFL.

Learning From Mahomes, Jackson, Tua and Burrow

If San Francisco are to help Lance succeed, they will need to take some lessons from recent draft classes. Patrick Mahomes, widely seen as the best quarterback in the league, spent all but one game of his 2017 rookie season as a backup to Alex Smith. The Chiefs then traded Smith the following offseason and Mahomes has never looked back. In his first three full seasons as a starter in the NFL, he has reached two Super Bowls, winning one. He has also been crowned MVP and Super Bowl MVP and reached three successive AFC Championship games. All three have been at home. On the flip side, 2020 first overall pick Joe Burrow started in week one of his rookie year. He wouldn’t last the season, only playing ten games before injury curtailed his first NFL campaign. He was impressive before his injury but there are no guarantees he will be the same player when he returns.

Lamar Jackson was a backup to Joe Flacco during his 2018 rookie year but won the starting role midseason. He has since gone on to win an MVP award and is the future of the franchise. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins brought Tua Tagovailoa in mid-season but he struggled in his rookie season. He is seen to already be on the hot seat, with many feeling the Dolphins rushed him in. These examples all show there are reasons for the 49ers to be hasty when it comes to choosing when to bring Lance into the starting role.

Lance Or Garoppolo In 2021?

The 49ers will have to decide soon who their starter will be in 2021. Considering Lance has only played one full season (2019), he is likely to start the season as the backup. He only threw for a combined total of 31 passing attempts, two touchdowns and 1 interception across the 2018 and 2020 seasons, albeit the latter campaign being disrupted by the pandemic. He is likely to be a work in progress but his 28 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in 2019 mean that he is one for the future.

Garoppolo will likely start in week one but it was clear from the NFC Championship game that Shanahan doesn’t completely trust him.

Jimmy G is a capable quarterback but his health is a concern. Expect Garoppolo to remain as the starter provided the 49ers are winning games but for Lance to come in should Garoppolo either be injured or start the season poorly.

Should this happen, this will be the end of Garoppolo’s time in San Francisco. Depending on timing, he will then be traded either before the deadline or in the 2022 offseason.

Can The 49ers Returning Players Avoid A Repeat Of 2020?

This is key if the 49ers are to challenge for both the NFC West and the NFC. After earning the number one seed and reaching Super Bowl 54 during the 2019 campaign, San Francisco finished 6-10 in 2020 and bottom of the division. A ”˜Super Bowl Hangover’ played its part but the main cause of such a decline was down to a colossal amount of injuries the team suffered. Along with the aforementioned Garoppolo, the 49ers also saw Bosa, Dee Ford, George Kittle, Raheem Mostert, Deebo Samuel and Solomon Thomas miss large chunks of the 2020 season due to injury.

San Francisco had 33 players reported questionable and there were 186 occasions when the 49ers reported a player on injured reserve. They had the second-most injuries of any team in the NFL over the past twenty years. Should all these players come back, then this 49ers roster will be one of the best in the league. This will make life much easier for whoever the San Francisco starting quarterback is.

However, from the strength of the division to the uncertainty at quarterback, San Francisco will find it tough to win the NFC West.

The post Why the QB situation may prevent the 49ers from winning the NFC West appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Steph Sanchez

Due to the circumstances, Javon Kinlaw’s career may always be connected to DeForest Buckner. When the 49ers traded DeForest Bucker in March of 2020, it sent shockwaves throughout the league. Buckner had just completed his best season to date on the wave of the team’s Super Bowl birth. 

When the decision on who to extend came down to Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner, no one really expected the team to part ways with Buckner. However, making the money work was an issue. Buckner, being as impressive as he was, would demand top DE money. 

The 49ers are not averse to dishing out top dollar for top talent. But they spend their money meticulously and with eyes on the long term. So while they could have technically made a Buckner extension work, they would be strapped for cash for years to come with extensions for George Kittle, Fred Warner, and Nick Bosa coming up.

That’s when the 49ers decided to trade DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts in March of 2020, at the height of his career. The 49ers received a first-round pick in exchange for Buckner. 

Many 49ers fans were livid. The immediate reaction was that the 49ers made the wrong move. First round picks are great if you make the right pick with them. The pressure was immediately on for the 49ers to pick an absolute game changer. Even if it wasn’t reasonable, fans wanted a Buckner replacement to be at his level. Anything less would be a mistake.

The 49ers selected DT Javon Kinlaw with the 14th overall pick in the 2020 draft. It was clear that this kid was a baller but immediately people reviewed the pick through a certain lens: Is Javon Kinlaw a better prospect than DeForest Buckner? Hard to say so early but it seemed Kinlaw would have to go above and beyond to escape Buckner’s shadow.

The 6-foot-5, 324 pound Kinlaw had an impressive resume coming out of college. He finished a First-Team All American who tallied 82 total tackles, 17 for loss, 10 total sacks, 3 force fumbles, and 8 passes defended. It was clear right off the bat that Kinlaw had proven to be an impactful player before. It wasn’t crazy to think that he could step up into a similar role in the NFL and yield similar results.

The elephant in the room would remain, however. We can imagine the immense pressure that Kinlaw felt before even stepping into the 49ers facility. He knew he would not only be entering a new environment but one where he is expected to eventually fill the void of Buckner. He was expected to prove that he was the right move. The reports out of Kinlaw’s first camp were all positive and it did not seem as if the pressure would hinder his performance. 

As the long awaited and anticipated season began to get underway, injuries to the defense mounted. The biggest hit to the defense and Kinlaw’s growth may have been Nick Bosa who went down in Week 2. Bosa’s presence makes everything a bit easier for the rest of the defensive line as he garners a lot of attention from the offensive line. Buckner was a force in his own right, however, it can’t be overstated the impact that Bosa and even Dee Ford had on freeing things up for him. Kinlaw could have benefited from the same but it would not happen in his rookie season.

The defense still found a way to flash, including Kinlaw. He finished his rookie season with 19 total pressures, and 2 sacks on 341 pass rush snaps. He also made an impact in the run game with 20 stops. He showed he can do things on his own and help his teammates make plays with 24 total tackles and 8 assists.  Stats alone won’t tell the full story but having watched every game, you can see Kinlaw become more and more comfortable with himself, with the scheme, and with the level of competition with each week. So when you consider Kinlaw as a rookie, he did a great job and 49ers fans have plenty to look forward to as he continues to develop. He was no Buckner right off the bat but it’s important to remember that neither was Bucker. In fact, in Kinlaw’s first NFL game vs Cardinals, he was graded 81.4 by PFF. Buckner’s best rookie grade also just so happened to be 81.4. If PFF scores are any indication of what’s to come, Kinlaw is heading in the right direction.

With another year under his belt (and an offseason of hunting and eating squirrels), you have to feel good about Kinlaw having a potential breakout year. The 49ers defensive line bolstered their depth this offseason with the additions of Maurice Hurst, Arden Key and Zach Kerr. This will allow for a solid rotation that will help keep the line fresh. This will ultimately benefit every defensive lineman. It also gives first year defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans a full arsenal of players to execute his more “aggressive” scheme. 

The return of Nick Bosa should also do wonders for the line. Even if Bosa isn’t 100% back to his rookie form, he will garner enough attention to provide opportunities for Kinlaw and others. 

While we’ve been conditioned to no longer expect Dee Ford to be available, we have heard good things about his rehab this offseason. It sounds like he can contribute even if only a few pass rushing snaps a game. While it may not seem like much, it’s more support than Kinlaw had last season and I fully expect the 6’5” 319 pound pro to take advantage. 

With more experience, confidence and better supporting cast, the stars are aligning for Kinlaw to have a breakout year. Kris Kocurek and DeMeco Ryans will put him in winning situations. Opposing offensive lines will have their hands full with a stacked 49ers defensive front

The post Why 49ers Javon Kinlaw will be a star next season appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jeremy Trottier

The 2021 offseason has been relatively interesting so far, with a huge deal of the free agents gone at this point.  With that said, there are still some quality signings out there to be made, and will likely happen as we get closer to training camps in the coming weeks.  Geno Atkins is one of the remaining free agents who is intriguing, as his landing spot is almost completely up in the air, and just depends on team needs come September.  In this article, I will be going over three reasons as to why the San Francisco 49ers should sign Geno.

Defensive Line Rotation

The 49ers have an extremely strong defensive line right now; however, they do lack a true force starting alongside the potential of Javon Kinlaw.  D.J. Jones is solid but does not bring much in terms of production throughout the season.  If the 49ers were able to accrue a line of Nick Bosa, Javon Kinlaw, Geno Atkins, and Arik Armstead, they would definitely be in a great place to really bulk up their rotation.  

This would also allow them to keep Dee Ford, D.J. Jones, and Kentavius Street as backups and after last season, it seems pretty clear they need to be focused on “next man up” football if players go down again.  Even if they do not have as many injuries as last season, keeping quality backups for later weeks so you can rest your starters is a solid plan.

Geno is Still a Productive Player

One of the biggest things people tend to forget about Geno is he really had one bad season to date, and that being 2020 with his shoulder surgery.  Prior to that, he made six consecutive pro bowls and an all-pro team, as well as two pro bowls in the three seasons before that.  The last season he played all 16 games (2019) he had the following stats:

• 4.5 sacks, 47 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss
• 10 QB hits, 10 hurries, 20 pressures, and only 6 missed tackles

It is also worth noting that 2019 was his first season playing defensive end instead of the interior, which really is not his strong suit.  If he is placed back at IDL he should regain his productivity of years past.

Scheme Fit

Personally, looking at how this defense was run under Robert Saleh, I believe Geno would absolutely thrive in this 49ers defense.  Things will likely stay relatively stable with DeMeco Ryan taking over as defensive coordinator, as he worked under Robert Saleh so he will likely continue to use the scheme they have in years past. 

This would allow their 4-3 scheme to stay intact, and them to run Geno as a “pass-rushing IDL” of sorts due to his hugely productive sack numbers over the years.  The 49ers are also extremely blitz-heavy on late downs, having the 3rd highest blitz rate on 3rd downs in 2020, and 19th on earlier downs. 

This would also allow Geno to either produce his own sacks on those late downs or take on two O-linemen and allow the other three previously mentioned players around him to rack up some more sacks as well.  Working inside Nick Bosa would be an absolute dream for the 49ers, and an absolute nightmare for any opposing quarterbacks. 

The post Why San Francisco 49ers should consider signing Geno Atkins appeared first on Pro Football Mania.